The European Individual Chess Championship in Budva started with many surprises. The top seeded GM Vallejo made a draw with the Mediterranean champion IM Darko Doric. GM Vladimir Malakhov, who is aiming at the 2700 club, achieved the same result against GM Goran Todorovic. A worse start had GM Grachev, GM Aleksandrov, GM Ivanisevic, and GM Wojtaszek who lost at the start.